How I became a visual illustrator

Since childhood, I've loved doodling and creating cartoons. I became a fan of Janis Ozolins after discovering his collaboration with Naval Ravikant, and I've been following his incredible work since then.

In December 2021, I purchased a Janis NFT during the NFT hype. With it, I gained access to his "Explain Ideas Visually" course. On January 23rd, I shared my first visual on Twitter after trying the course.

Here’s the story in a tweet from Janis himself.

I loved it. And I still love it.

My principles for publishing content online are heavily influenced by Janis’s style, with my own twist.

  • Respect for other people’s time: what I put out there is worthy of spending time reading it?

  • Would I like to see my stuff out there: if someone else posted it, would I love to see it?

  • Have fun and learn: it never has to look like a “chore” and I always (always) ask “am I enjoying the process”?

  • Am I driven by my own curiosity and desire to grow, and as a byproduct create value for others?

If the answer to all is a “YES”, then it’s OK to share it.

Another key principle: continually iterate, improve, and draw inspiration from the incredible people out there. A rewarding aspect of creating visuals and content is connecting with like-minded individuals, engaging in conversations, and finding inspiration. I firmly believe in ethical inspiration, always crediting those who inspired an iteration when sharing it for the first time.

What happened since then?

Since then, I've made 850+ illustrations (and counting) and built an audience of over 200,000 people on LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram, and through my newsletter. I've also collaborated with inspiring individuals and companies.

My guidelines for sharing and reposting

If you'd like to share my illustrations, feel free to do so if it’s for personal use and not for promotional intent and if you do it from a personal account and not a business account.

In other words, do not use my content if you include any call to action related to "follow my account for more" or "buy my product/service". If it’s for commercial use, I have a licensing section.

So, for personal use, if you credit me in the main post where you share them, it will be perfect, as Steven did here on LinkedIn. A simple tag won’t work.

Can you translate them into another language or make any adaptations to the illustrations before resharing them? No, you can’t do that, but you can still reshare them “as is” without changing any text, colors, or any other element of the illustration. And if you are really eager to share my illustrations in another language, reach out to me and share your idea; perhaps I can do a local version 😊

If you are an illustrator and are inspired by my work to do a version on the same topic with a twist, of course, go ahead. I’d love to see it, so tag me on the same platform when you share it. I also love to iterate on other creators’ illustrations; it’s a wonderful way to build on each other’s work. Here’s an example of one iteration that I did on one of Jun Han’s brilliant illustrations.

Thanks again for your support!

Do you want to learn?

After creating and sharing visuals, many asked about my tools and techniques. I use affinity designer on both iPad and desktop, with device syncing.

If you're keen on learning, I recommend Janis Ozolins' "Explain Ideas Visually" course and joining the community. Use the code “RF10” for a 10% discount.

Another excellent option is the “Thinking in Visual Metaphors” course by the talented illustrator PJ Milani. Use the code "FERRARO10" for a 10% discount.

Full disclosure: I am both an affiliate and a fan of Janis and PJ 😊

Do you want to license my illustrations?

I've created hundreds of unique illustrations, generating millions of impressions in the past months. These visuals helped me connect with over 200.000 people on Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn in one year.

I often receive requests from people who want to share my visuals with their audience or customers.

This is why I decided to make it as simple as possible to use and personalize my visuals and adapt them to your needs.

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1:1 content creation consulting

During two years, I shared daily on LinkedIn, Twitter and Instagram, and went from zero to 200.000+ curious minds following my work.

As a content creator, I occasionally share tips and actionable strategies for communicating online. I love doing this and see it as a way to see more of what I like.

I will share with you what worked for me and what to avoid.

If you're interested, you can book a 1:1 consulting call.

Before our call, prepare a list of questions and your online presence goals. This will ensure a productive session. I'll provide an agenda and video call link.

After our call, I'll send you:

  • The recording of our meeting

  • Summary notes with a personalized action plan

  • Access to all of my learning resources

  • Any other resources we discuss